ARCTIC NORWAY: SPRING HOLIDAYS: JUNE
2018

Spring holidays in Arctic Norway have been a popular fixture in our mountain calendar for over 10 years and offer alpine ascents, rock routes and peak-bagging in the wilderness regions of Lyngen and Lofoten - a perfect cross between Scotland and the Alps, but without the crowds and acclimatisation worries. The two weeks dovetail so that you can book a full fortnight to maximise the holiday experience and contrast the glaciated alpine summits ofLyngen with the dramatic rock peaks of Lofoten.

2-9 JUNE: LYNGEN ALPS

The Lyngen Alps are the finest range in northern Norway, forming a peninsula 60 x 15 km in area to the east of Tromsø and containing over 60 separate peaks over 1000m in altitude. The culminating summit is 1834m Jiekkhevarri which dominates a large ice cap and is known as the "Mont Blanc of the North". The area is a protected wilderness. There are extensive glaciers, steep snow couloirs and gabbro rock ridges which give excellent scrambling and rock climbing. In early June Lyngen is a paradise. Snow cover is extensive and the ridges are in alpine condition. With 24 hour daylight and a complete absence of crowds mountaineering here is a delight. The approaches are long and the weather can be mixed but the rewards are rich. Our Lyngen week offers two course levels:-

Travel: The Lyngen courses meet and depart at Tromsø airport. There are a variety of flight options from the UK to Oslo with BA and KLM. Norwegian Airlines and SAS fly from Oslo to Tromsø.

Accommodation: The 2018 Lyngen courses are based a luxurious 5-bedroom house in Lyngseidet the main village on the peninsula with access to all major peaks in north and south Lyngen. The house in Strandvegen has double and single room options. The supplement for a single room option is £60.00
The house has large lounge, dining and kitchen areas, offers Wi-Fi connection and can sleep up to 9 people. On mountain excursions we may take tents and make a high-level camp.

The
wild and rugged peaks of Lofoten: the eastern pillars
of Rulten (1063m) from the Raftsund

9-16 JUNE: LOFOTEN ISLANDS AND STETIND

The magical Lofoten Islands chain stretches 150km out into the Norwegian Sea and features hundreds of dramatic rock peaks rising out of deep fjords to 1000 metres in altitude. The scrambling and rock climbing on pristine granite rock is world-famous. Our Lofoten week can visit four contrasting ranges:-

i) Trolltindan: some of the roughest and most delectable mountains in the world rise from the Raftsund fjord. In early June conditions here are semi-alpine with extensive snow cover. Many peaks - such as Rulten (1063m) and Trakta (950m) can only be accessed by boat.

ii) Austvågøya: the south-west corner of the main island is a playground for accessible rock climbing with superb granite cliffs on the flanks of Vågakallen (943m) including the 400m pillar of Presten.

iii) Moskenesøya: the westernmost island of Lofoten is a fairytale landscape of miniature granite peaks rising straight out of the sea in vast slabby sweeps to 900m altitude.

iv) Stetind and Narvik: these superb mainland ranges are also accessible from Lofoten. The obelisk of Stetind (1392m) is Norway's national mountain and possibly its finest peak and is often included on the Lofoten itinerary.

Accommodation: The course is usually based
in comfortable cabins at the shoreline site of Sandvika near Svolvaer, with camp or cabin options if we travel to other ranges. On the Stetind climb there are beautiful wild campsites by the road under the peak.

Travel: Destination airports are either Evenes (Harstad/Narvik) or Tromsø and we will arrange collection and
drop-off. Evenes is nearer to the ranges whereas Tromsø is best for clients doing the Lyngen course the previous week. Full flight options and price estimates are given on enquiry. Road access is excellent throughout the Lofotens with amazing systems of tunnels, bridges and causeways plus traditional ferry links to the mainland.